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Your Overall Well-being Begins with a Healthy Mind

The way you think and feel make up part of your mental health. It impacts the way you live, how you react to things, and how you relate to people. Mental health is important at every stage of life. And just like going to your doctor for a yearly exam, your mental health sometimes needs a checkup too.

Early warning signs

There is no easy way to test or be aware that someone you know has a mental illness. Each illness has its own symptoms. There are, however, common warning signs of mental illness that include:

Children

Changes in school behavior or performance (e.g., bad school grades, fighting with students, etc.)

Worried all the time

Angry often

Having lots of nightmares

Yelling or screaming to get noticed

Sleeping or eating too little or too much

Crying or being sad more than usual

Adolescents and adults

Extreme worrying or fear

Mood and behavior changes

Having trouble thinking, confused

Feeling like nothing matters

Avoiding family and friends

Unable to do daily things like go to school, work or normal tasks

Sleeping or eating too little or too much

Changes in sex drive

Drinking alcohol or using drugs often

Thinking about harming yourself or others

Don’t go it alone

It can be hard to talk about mental health. You may not want to see a doctor or a therapist because of what people might think or say. Keep in mind that mental illness is a very common problem, but it isn’t something you can fix yourself. And without help, mental illness can get worse. If you’re having trouble with your mental wellbeing don’t be afraid to have an open talk with your doctor.

Sources of help

Please know that there is help if you or someone you know might have a mental health illness. Your doctor is a good first step. He or she can connect you with the right people and services. Health Net’s Managed Health Network (MHN) can also help find a mental health expert for you. If you need help right away, please consider:

911 for emergency situations

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) if you or someone you know is thinking about death by suicide.